2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:1 After a brief description of the battle, the author focuses on how Absalom died and on David’s grief over his son’s death. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:2 David’s men believe that the ultimate success or failure of Absalom’s rebellion will depend on whether Absalom can kill David. This was also the opinion of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:3). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.le... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:5 DEAL GENTLY... WITH... ABSALOM. Why did David make this request? Was it out of pure fatherly love, or did it also involve a feeling of guilt toward Absalom? ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:6 The FOREST OF EPHRAIM was actually not in Ephraim but east of the Jordan in Gilead. Here David’s experienced army could effectively attack a much larger force, most of whom were apparently unable to move around well in a forest (THE FOREST DEVOURED MORE PEOPLE... THAN... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:9 The king’s sons usually rode mules, rather than horses (2 Samuel 13:29). HIS HEAD CAUGHT FAST IN THE OAK. It seems that Absalom’s hair got tangled in the tree (see 2 Samuel 14:26). In God’s providence, the source of Absalom’s pride became the cause of his downfall. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:17 EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN HOME. See note on 1 Sam. 4:10. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:18 I HAVE NO SON. See note on 14:27. The author contrasts the memorial pillar with Absalom’s actual tomb, a big pile of rocks (2 Samuel 18:17; compare Joshua 7:26; Joshua 8:29). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:19 TODAY YOU SHALL CARRY NO NEWS, BECAUSE THE KING’S SON IS DEAD. Joab does not seem to be hiding anything from David (GO, TELL THE KING WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN). But he apparently wants to protect AHIMAAZ, SON OF ZADOK the priest, from having to deliver the bad news to David... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:24 The TWO GATES are the outer gate and the inner gate of the gate complex. A man running ALONE would be a messenger; a group would probably be men fleeing. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 18:29 A GREAT COMMOTION. Ahimaaz may have been trying to break the news gently. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]